Investigating what the media says to the intended audience about images and stories:
• Implied values and attitudes transmitted by the media
• Accessibility – understanding it as well as being able to obtain/access it
• Gender of the intended audience – is it directed mainly to young females, males, no specific gender?
• Is this a “respected” media or something that offers a chance to “defy” authority?
The content we are looking for will focus on children, not parents and teachers.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Accessibility
What does the media imply about a child's ability to access and obtain video games through handheld devices?
I think that children adapt to new technology SO quickly, often much quicker then an adult. The media implies that children will just know how to work things and if not they will be resilient until they learn how to work them. From my perspective adults have less interest with the up-and-coming technology and thus struggle with it. Take a look at this 1 year old and her journey with an iPad versus a magazine. What are your thoughts?
I agree Tay. I don't think we can tame the rate at which children are becoming literate with media devices, and it will be up to our generations to provide these children with the skills necessary to distinguish between fact and fiction.
Yes, children adapt so easily to new technology that the accessibility of the games never seems to be an issue for them, and the media implies this through advertising--that the games are as accessible as opening a book on a bookshelf.
Thank you for your reply. Do you agree it is up to us to teach the skills necessary for children to make wise choices or do you think it is even an issue? You can see my latest post near the bottom of this blog.
There is a lot of academic research that will give you insight into why children adapt more easily than adults. Take a look at what people are saying about the terms "digital native" and "digital immigrant". Prensky is the one who is known to have coined these terms. Check out
Thank you for your post Jacqueline. This article is very interesting. What really struck me was the part about language and how it is changing. I performed a quick little experiment with my own children as I read this article. I asked them, "What does 'dial' mean?" They both looked at me like I was crazy. One shrugged her shoulders and the other one said, "I think it might have to do with calling someone on the phone." This is an example of how the digital generation's vocabulary is changing. Soon, there will be words that are no longer meaningful to our children, but still remain useful for us.
This is just a small piece of the growing gap between the way we think and the way our children are thinking, and how they will think in the future. As parents and teachers I believe we must come to accept the change that is happening because turning away from it will only hinder their learning. It will be a lot of work for teachers to learn different teaching techniques in order to help their students succeed. The reality is, this is all about their future, which affects our future in the end. We want our younger generations to be educated, but we also want them to want to be educated.
What do you think the implications are of this? When the students no longer know the language we are speaking, what will happen? Some might respond by saying that the world is always changing and the way we learned was different from the way our parents or grandparents learned. But, if you look at the bigger picture, the rate at which our youth’s knowledge base and ways of learning are changing is extremely faster than that of what we experienced. For me, this means the gap between digital natives and digital immigrants is growing by the day.
I find this very interesting, although this point does not specifically apply to handheld video games, it does apply more to the topic of media literacy. We see that this loss of language happens in our own language as generations pass but do we really notice the impact of this on other languages as well? After coming to Blue Quills I see the vast importance of language within a culture. Imagine how rapidly the Indigenous culture is losing there language after having it removed from their daily lives during the times of the residential schools. Ultimately, it is important to stay up-to-date on language, whether it is from an Indigenous perspective, our Western culture or in the land of the video games, it all has meaning attached.
I think that kids today have a lot more supports to help them figure out the things they don't understand than we did when we were younger. I remember reading a book when I was a child that kept referring to the old gramophone that sat in the corner. My choices to find out what it was (because there was not enough context in the book) were to ask my parents or look it up in the dictionary (and I did not have one at home). Now when I come across something that I don't know a lot about I turn to my phone or computer and google it instantly. Maybe that will keep the distance between the language from the past and the language of the future shorter. Just an aside... I was teaching the other day and used the word telephone. I soon as I said it, it seemed strange to both hear and say. I don't think that we often use the word telephone anymore and just use the word phone or things like cell. Perhaps telephone is a word that is slowly disappearing. Many of us don't have telephones anymore, anyway - we just have smartphones.
The media implies that the child's ability to use handheld video games is that it is the "future" of our children. They will grow up around handheld devices and to them, that will be the norm. There are constant debates about whether or not this is acceptable, but, obviously each parent has the right to decide for their own children.
Children's minds are growing and expanding so fast that they are able to learn quickly!
Thank you for your post Brenna. It is so true about how fast children are learning today. The article posted above (http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20- %20Part1.pdf) actually talks about how they think the physical structure of the brain is changing in our youth. Although they don't know for sure, they do know that their thinking is changing. And, I do agree with you that handheld devices is the norm for our children today. So, do you think adults should learn as much as they can about digital devices? What would be the benefits?
Even though the accessibility of handheld video games is continually becoming easier for our younger generations, the accessibility is not the biggest concern anymore. As life gets more and more busy, parents and teachers seem to have less time to hover over their children and students to make sure they are playing ‘appropriate’ games on their electronic devices. Because of this, the more prominent concern is how children are responding to the materials they are exposed to. In today’s society, it is somewhat unreasonable to think adults can ‘control’ what our youth are exposed to. This being said, our children will certainly be left alone or be in the company of friends and family with whom we don’t necessarily share the same values and attitudes with. Assuming we can’t ‘protect’ our children and youth from such exposer leads me to believe our children must learn the necessary skills to think critically about what they see and play with. In Young Canadians in the Wired Word: Phase 111, it looks at these issues from a teacher’s perspective and states, “In spite of the fact that young people demonstrate a facility with online tools, many students lack the skills they need to use those tools effectively for learning. There is also a real propensity on the part of students to take what they find online as “given”” (MediaSmarts, 2012, p.3). This research backs up my idea that children need to learn the skills to critically think about what they are playing in video games. If they do play a violent video game, do they see fiction or nonfiction? Do they have the skills to see the difference? If a violent game scares a child, does it mean they do not have the skills necessary to see the difference?
You may or may not agree, but what are your thoughts?
Reference: MediaSmarts. (2012). Young Canadians in the Wired Word: Phase 111. Retrieved from http://mediasmarts.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/publication-report/full/YCWWIII-Teachers-Perspectives.pdf
Yes, it is obvious children adapt much easier than our parents our an older generation. Many children know how to run an ipod or a DS way more quicker than adults. To children this is normal and without it they feel lost.
Considering the post I made under the Values and Attitudes section, I am wondering if video game makers have an underlying agenda when moving away from stereotyping characters and settings. Could it be that they want to appeal to a wider audience, and their main concern is making more money? Or do you think it really has to do with moving away from stereotyping?
in the world of computers and other electronics I think a child needs to know how to perform the tasks the games are asking them to do just to keep up with the times. not saying I agree with this but it is the way of the generation and the times.
I think that children adapt to new technology SO quickly, often much quicker then an adult. The media implies that children will just know how to work things and if not they will be resilient until they learn how to work them. From my perspective adults have less interest with the up-and-coming technology and thus struggle with it. Take a look at this 1 year old and her journey with an iPad versus a magazine. What are your thoughts?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXV-yaFmQNk
I agree Tay. I don't think we can tame the rate at which children are becoming literate with media devices, and it will be up to our generations to provide these children with the skills necessary to distinguish between fact and fiction.
DeleteYes, children adapt so easily to new technology that the accessibility of the games never seems to be an issue for them, and the media implies this through advertising--that the games are as accessible as opening a book on a bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reply. Do you agree it is up to us to teach the skills necessary for children to make wise choices or do you think it is even an issue? You can see my latest post near the bottom of this blog.
DeleteThere is a lot of academic research that will give you insight into why children adapt more easily than adults. Take a look at what people are saying about the terms "digital native" and "digital immigrant". Prensky is the one who is known to have coined these terms. Check out
ReplyDeletehttp://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-
%20Part1.pdf
Jackie
Thank you for your post Jacqueline. This article is very interesting. What really struck me was the part about language and how it is changing. I performed a quick little experiment with my own children as I read this article. I asked them, "What does 'dial' mean?" They both looked at me like I was crazy. One shrugged her shoulders and the other one said, "I think it might have to do with calling someone on the phone." This is an example of how the digital generation's vocabulary is changing. Soon, there will be words that are no longer meaningful to our children, but still remain useful for us.
DeleteThis is just a small piece of the growing gap between the way we think and the way our children are thinking, and how they will think in the future. As parents and teachers I believe we must come to accept the change that is happening because turning away from it will only hinder their learning. It will be a lot of work for teachers to learn different teaching techniques in order to help their students succeed. The reality is, this is all about their future, which affects our future in the end. We want our younger generations to be educated, but we also want them to want to be educated.
What do you think the implications are of this? When the students no longer know the language we are speaking, what will happen? Some might respond by saying that the world is always changing and the way we learned was different from the way our parents or grandparents learned. But, if you look at the bigger picture, the rate at which our youth’s knowledge base and ways of learning are changing is extremely faster than that of what we experienced. For me, this means the gap between digital natives and digital immigrants is growing by the day.
I find this very interesting, although this point does not specifically apply to handheld video games, it does apply more to the topic of media literacy. We see that this loss of language happens in our own language as generations pass but do we really notice the impact of this on other languages as well? After coming to Blue Quills I see the vast importance of language within a culture. Imagine how rapidly the Indigenous culture is losing there language after having it removed from their daily lives during the times of the residential schools. Ultimately, it is important to stay up-to-date on language, whether it is from an Indigenous perspective, our Western culture or in the land of the video games, it all has meaning attached.
DeleteI think that kids today have a lot more supports to help them figure out the things they don't understand than we did when we were younger. I remember reading a book when I was a child that kept referring to the old gramophone that sat in the corner. My choices to find out what it was (because there was not enough context in the book) were to ask my parents or look it up in the dictionary (and I did not have one at home). Now when I come across something that I don't know a lot about I turn to my phone or computer and google it instantly. Maybe that will keep the distance between the language from the past and the language of the future shorter. Just an aside... I was teaching the other day and used the word telephone. I soon as I said it, it seemed strange to both hear and say. I don't think that we often use the word telephone anymore and just use the word phone or things like cell. Perhaps telephone is a word that is slowly disappearing. Many of us don't have telephones anymore, anyway - we just have smartphones.
DeleteThe media implies that the child's ability to use handheld video games is that it is the "future" of our children. They will grow up around handheld devices and to them, that will be the norm. There are constant debates about whether or not this is acceptable, but, obviously each parent has the right to decide for their own children.
ReplyDeleteChildren's minds are growing and expanding so fast that they are able to learn quickly!
Thank you for your post Brenna. It is so true about how fast children are learning today. The article posted above (http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-
Delete%20Part1.pdf) actually talks about how they think the physical structure of the brain is changing in our youth. Although they don't know for sure, they do know that their thinking is changing. And, I do agree with you that handheld devices is the norm for our children today. So, do you think adults should learn as much as they can about digital devices? What would be the benefits?
Even though the accessibility of handheld video games is continually becoming easier for our younger generations, the accessibility is not the biggest concern anymore. As life gets more and more busy, parents and teachers seem to have less time to hover over their children and students to make sure they are playing ‘appropriate’ games on their electronic devices. Because of this, the more prominent concern is how children are responding to the materials they are exposed to. In today’s society, it is somewhat unreasonable to think adults can ‘control’ what our youth are exposed to. This being said, our children will certainly be left alone or be in the company of friends and family with whom we don’t necessarily share the same values and attitudes with. Assuming we can’t ‘protect’ our children and youth from such exposer leads me to believe our children must learn the necessary skills to think critically about what they see and play with. In Young Canadians in the Wired Word: Phase 111, it looks at these issues from a teacher’s perspective and states, “In spite of the fact that young people demonstrate a facility with online tools, many students lack the skills they need to use those tools effectively for learning. There is also a real propensity on the part of students to take what they find online as “given”” (MediaSmarts, 2012, p.3). This research backs up my idea that children need to learn the skills to critically think about what they are playing in video games. If they do play a violent video game, do they see fiction or nonfiction? Do they have the skills to see the difference? If a violent game scares a child, does it mean they do not have the skills necessary to see the difference?
ReplyDeleteYou may or may not agree, but what are your thoughts?
Reference: MediaSmarts. (2012). Young Canadians in the Wired Word: Phase 111. Retrieved from http://mediasmarts.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/publication-report/full/YCWWIII-Teachers-Perspectives.pdf
Yes, it is obvious children adapt much easier than our parents our an older generation. Many children know how to run an ipod or a DS way more quicker than adults. To children this is normal and without it they feel lost.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the post I made under the Values and Attitudes section, I am wondering if video game makers have an underlying agenda when moving away from stereotyping characters and settings. Could it be that they want to appeal to a wider audience, and their main concern is making more money? Or do you think it really has to do with moving away from stereotyping?
ReplyDeletein the world of computers and other electronics I think a child needs to know how to perform the tasks the games are asking them to do just to keep up with the times. not saying I agree with this but it is the way of the generation and the times.
ReplyDelete